Formulating, Planning and Hatching.

I’ve spent the last couple of weeks at a loss.

Slipped a disc in my back and couldn’t get into the studio to do any work.

I was working from home for my day job just fine but couldn’t seem to concentrate on any artwork, maybe because all my bits and bobs were in the studio, my inspiring stuff, my books, art magazines etc. I was googling away but it just isn’t the same.

I had however been asked to submit a proposal for an exhibtion next year, the idea had to involve a box.

So I spent my time thinking about what I could do for this, by the time I got back into the studio I was back on a role. I was really grateful to be asked to submit as it was exactly what I needed to give me a kick up the jacksy and even if my submission is not accepted, I plan to make the piece as it’s got me hooked.

I’m making a ‘Butterfly Park in a box’ in a tiny Letterpress cabinet. Using Lepidoptera Drawers as inspiration but filling each segment with miniature artists books, drawings,maps and objects found on site at New Ferry Butterfly Park (see my other blog www.a-n.co.uk/p/614513/ )

I also managed to make three collage pictures to enter in the auction at Elevator Studios next Friday evening, I’m not sure if they will be accepted yet but really wanted to put something in then got carried away after I had made the first and made three. All use old life drawings of mine but intertwined with pages of old shakespearean verse and words. I’m quite pleased with the way they turned out in the end.

I then went over to ‘Drawing Sessions’ and event organised by Drawing Paper and The Royal Standard. I’m a big fan of the Drawing Paper, there have been some truly beautiful works in them.

The event was really fabulous, hats off to the organisers, interpreting sound, making your own sound (through amps) whilst drawing, telepathic drawings, films, music, very well executed with some really interesting works coming through.

Glad to be back in the zone.

I am not off to a good start – I just realised it 12.45am and I have been reading a-n online for 3 hours and have not planned the school lunches or prepped for my butterfly park meeting in my house tomorrow (today)….

…..must try harder

….must try harder

New blog for a new start.

I found out this week that I’ve been appointed to one of the Directors posts at my studio, Arena Studios and Gallery in Liverpool.

In 2012 we have our 30th anniversary as a succesful studio and are formulating plans for how to celebrate this.

I have a new job as Activity Plan Manager for an amazing Heritage Restoration site that plans to re-open in 2012.

I am still heavily involved with New Ferry Butterfly Park see my other blog www.a-n.co.uk/p/614513/

I have applied for funding for an empty shops project on behalf of the Butterfly Park and for a grant to enable us to do workshops during 2012.

Primarily I am an artist – first and foremost and after a much needed break once the MA finished I’m ready to get back to it and find some fabulous projects to be involved with or exhibitions to take part in, mainly I want to make art. In order for this to be possible I need to plan – need to be quite draconian in that planning.

I’m interested in words, text, books, maps, codes and when I looked up the meaning of the word formulate a lot of the synonyms stood out to me. A lot of them seem to expain my way of working at this particular time.

Formulate: Synonyms: codify, coin, compose, concoct, contrive, cook up, couch, define, detail, develop, devise, draft, draw up, dream up, evolve, express, forge, frame, give form to, hatch, indite, invent, make, make up*, map, originate, particularize, phrase, prepare, put, set down, systematise, vamp, work, work out.

In my home, I am list woman, I write and leave notes all over the place that remind me, help me organise my life around my kids and work. I am, by nature, disorganised. I kind of thrive on disorder but I realise that 2012 will be an extremely busy (though exciting) year and as such I am going to need to plan my life in order that my own art gets a chance too.

I wonder if this will mean my artwork, my practice, will alter somewhat , who knows, I hope not too much but maybe it will be for the better. This blog will help me decide I hope….but time will tell.